Huddersfield Irish Remember 1916

Commemoration Events

1916 Rebellion

11th April 2016

Huddersfield Irish Centre

86 Fitzwilliam St.

Huddersfield

HD1 5BB

01484 420140

One hundred years ago on Easter Monday 24th April 1916, a group of Irish men and women staged a rebellion against the British Empire. This was a seminal moment in the formation of the modern Irish State. A weekend of events is planned to commemorate that historic occasion in the Huddersfield Irish Centre. This is a joint venture between Huddersfield TUC and the Irish Centre.

There has been a very important link between Ireland and Huddersfield since the middle of the 19th Century with a vibrant Irish community in the town and a thriving Irish Centre. We are inviting people from all the diverse groups in Huddersfield to participate in these events to make it as inclusive as possible. All these events are ticketed but free of charge.

The events will start on Friday 22nd April at 7.30pm. the mayor of Kirklees will officially open the commemoration events. Professor Jim McAuley from Huddersfield University will address the historic perspective.

There will be a short display of traditional Irish Dancing followed by a production of an anthology of music, songs, poetry and prose by Triskellion Theatre company on the Dublin Lockout that preceded the “Rising”.

On Saturday 23rd in afternoon, pupils of a local school will perform a history project about the 1916 “Uprising”.

Saturday evening at 7.30pm a speaker from the Irish Embassy will open proceedings followed by a talk on the rebellion by Dr Kevin Bean from Liverpool University.

That will be followed by a performance by the world renowned traditional Irish singer, song-writer, Andy Irvine.

On Sunday evening 24th at 7.45pm the Morning Star reporter, Peter Lazenby will give short speech on 1916 followed by Robin Stocks, author of, “Hidden Heroes of Easter Week”, a book on the Manchester Volunteers in the Rebellion, who will talk about those from Manchester who went over to participate in the Rising.

This will be followed by a performance of “Dublin Burning” by Mike Hanrahan and Brendan Begley. An anthology of music, songs and poetry about the Rebellion.

The evening will finish with a performance of songs by local musician Paul O’Sullivan.